Indie Author Life

Book shop owner (The Indie Realm, WA) and romantasy author, Shannon Riley is a presence in the West. There are lots of bookish things happening in Western Australia, and according to Shannon, it’s only getting started.

Shannon noted that one of the challenges facing the bookish scene in WA is the limited number of book related events. There are many reasons for this; logistical and financial at the heart of it. It can be costly to hold an event, even in Australia’s fourth largest city. The sheer size of the country is a barrier for a lot of people to travel too. From where I am in Melbourne, it is quicker for me to fly to Auckland, New Zealand (a whole different country!) than to get to Perth, the capital of the West.

But Shannon is confident there will be a continuous growth of book events, with the success of Wild Out West (WOW) being a positive sign.

Shannon made it clear that she writes and create stories purposefully, and for the pure joy of it. She states that she doesn’t (and can’t) write ‘crap’. She has to be in the mood to write, and write well, in order to tell her stories. If she’s not in the best headspace, the writing doesn’t happen.

There is something to take away from this mindset. Being gentle with yourself perhaps if the words aren’t coming out, it is ok, and encouraged, to take a step away from the writing desk/laptop.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 introduction

00:45 Shannon’s Background

04:15 Not writing to fit tropes

05:12 Shannon’s daily life

10:27 The hardest vs. most enjoyable part of writing

19:46 Book Events (West Australian ones)

30:03 Why Shannon’s drawn to romantasy

41:57 Write for yourself, not what’s popular

46:00 Different drafting and editing processes

47:36 Follow Shannon Riley

Shannon Riley Links

* Instagram

* Goodreads

* Tiktok

* Amazon

* Facebook

* The Indie Realm Perth

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

It is both daunting and special to share your book with other people.

Writing can often feel solitary. As authors, we are alone with our thoughts of character arcs, dialogs and visions of far off fantasy lands. We bring our thoughts together into one vessel (paperback, electronically, or otherwise), offering it to the world at large.

When we send our book out to the universe, it can also feel similarly solitary. Sometimes, it is a isolated celebration for releasing something so personal and precious - a little cheer from behind the screen as you post your announcement on social media. No matter how isolated it can feel, it is still a moment to cherish.

One can launch their book in many ways. This time, for my second full-length novel Darkness in the Flesh, I wanted an opportunity to launch it in both an intimate and inviting way. The Leaf Bookshop, and all my wonderful friends and family, made that possible.

Enjoy this special episode of the Indie Author Life Show, where a recording of my book launch for Darkness in the Flesh is available for you to watch or listen.

If you are interested in grabbing a copy of Darkness in the Flesh, visit my online author shop on Ko-Fi.

Please note: This was filmed with my vlog camera, so I apologise if the audio and visual quality may be a bit hard to hear/see at times.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:50 What Darkness in the Flesh is about

05:24 The writing experience for MG Hunt

08:47 Why I wanted to tell Gatira’s story

11:10 On writing powerful women

12:45 Romance in Darkness in the Flesh

16:39 Friendships and found family

18:56 Writing in first person

20:24 World-building process in MG Hunt’s books

24:20 Balancing life with writing

26:30 Why Identity is a big theme for Gatira’s story

27:48 Creation of the magik system

30:35 Looking at elemental magik heritage in book 2

31:36 Why MG Hunt writes young adult fantasy

33:40 What MG Hunt would like readers to take away from the book

34:34 Which fantasy author’s inspire MG Hunt

37:15 If I had to choose another genre

38:20 Plotter or pantser?

39:42 Movie or film casting

43:10 Audience QnA

MG Hunt’s Links:

* Instagram

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Welcome to a special episode of the indie author life show!

This episode is a recording of my panel chat at Unbound Fantasy event, held on 27th August 2026. I was honoured to be on a panel with two fantastic authors: Olivia O’Flynn and Isobelle Carmody. We shared our thoughts on Fantasy writing, world building, magic and the publishing industry. I came to the chat with an indie author perspective, which was great to contrast against some of the opinions shared by Olivia and Isobelle who are both traditionally published.

I recorded both the video and audio on my own devices. The lighting was a little dark and I had limited filming spots, so the visuals may be a bit hard to see at times. However, the audio is still enjoyable, and I hope you can sit back, relax, and enjoy this special episode of the indie author life show.

Special thanks to: Em Meades, JMC Academy, Olivia O’Flynn and Isobelle Carmody.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Panel chat begins

02:25 Author introductions

05:28 What draws you to writing fantasy

14:27 What types of characters we like to write.

23:38 Spirituality informing writing practices

35:11 World-building of our stories

42:34 Question time

Isobelle Carmody Links:

* Instagram

* Website

* Goodreads

* Facebook

* Patreon

Olivia O’Flynn Links:

* Instagram

* Website

* Goodreads

* TikTok

MG Hunt’s Links:

* Instagram

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

Thank you so much for tuning in to the episode. I hope you enjoyed it! If you want to check out more indie author life episodes, check out our Substack or Youtube channel. Episodes are also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many other similar distribution channels.

If you’d like to, please consider giving this episode a like, subscribe or consider following our social media accounts on TikTok and Instagram, @IndieAuthorLifeShow.

Finally, if you want to check out some of my books, you can find my fantasy novels over on my website which is mghunt.com.

Take care, and see you in the next episode.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

“Our creative side can heal us,” was what Australian author Kelly Wilson declared in our conversation. I couldn’t agree more with her.

We are thrown into environments and responsibilities that don’t leave room to priorities creativity. But returning to our creative or child-like side can offer us so much comfort and internal soothing.

Through Wings for Grace, Kelly is an Education and Wellbeing Consultant. She visits all parts of the community for play based learning activities, often align with her therapy dog, Zahli. This aspect of her professional life has inspired her children’s literature work, featuring titles such as Lady Lulu.

The other side of Kelly’s writing is much more darker. Through her thriller novels, she writes of strong female main characters who go through trials but always prevail. Kelly wants her female protagonists to be champions, to provide hope for those reading quite intense and dark stories. This is ever apparent in her titles Vita Mia (latest release) or Fragmented.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Kelly’s background

04:16 A day in Kelly’s life

11:40 Pivoting to writing after a life changing moment

16:04 Vita Mia and cult research

23:10 What do you find hardest about writing, and what do you find most enjoyable about writing?

29:06 Kelly’s first publications

33:00 Marketing yourself in two genres

39:39 What’s next for Kelly and her future projects

45:20 How to find Kelly

Kelly Wilson Links:

* Website Wings for Grace

* Instagram: Kelly Wilson Wings for Grace

* Instagram: Kelly Wilson Thriller Author

* Goodreads

* Kelly Wilson Bookshop

MG Hunt’s Links:

* Instagram

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Gabby has always held a deep love and adoration for stories. It started way before creating a blog for her reviews, more so when she was a child. It was a passion that seemed to never disappear. Even when she originally pursued a psychology degree, the itch to be involved in the literary world never dissipated. And after pivoting to a Bachelor of English and Creative Writing, Gabby never looked back.

During an English teaching stint in China, Gabby found herself editing other author’s manuscripts on her downtime. Upon returning to her home in Adelaide, Australia, Gabby realised this was a side quest of sorts that she wanted to engage in more seriously.

Now, alongside working in Adult Education at a University, Gabby’s GCD Editorial business is flourishing. She regularly keeps herself abreast of the updates in the editing world by constantly attending professional development sessions. Gabby also plans for a resource book to emerge in the future, one that aims to encapsulate the advice she’s provided to countless author’s she’s worked with throughout her career.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:20 Gabby’s background and where she grew up

12:20 The start of GCD Editorial and the indie author community

14:40 Teaching English in Adult Education

16:35 A day in the life of Gabby

19:26 The GCD Editorial process.

27:05 Receiving criticism

31:05 Gabby’s perspective on the most common issues seen when receiving a manuscript

37:01 All about Style Sheets

40:02 A genre Gabby would like to edit in the future

42:45 Gabby’s favourite genre

45:12 Changes in the indie book world

50:12 Where you can get in contact with Gabby at GCD Editorial

GCD Editorial Links:

* Website

* Instagram

Email: [email protected]

MG Hunt’s Links:

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In our chat, author Elaelah Harley joked about not having any hobbies. But with so many new story ideas constantly running through her mind, I don't think she'd have time for one anyway: writing and storytelling should consume all her energy.

As indie authors, it's funny how our story writing sometimes feels less like a hobby and more like an extra job. Maybe that's because we take it so seriously, and there's a lot of mental work involved that other hobbies don't necessarily require. Though, I'd argue that all hobbies, no matter how "mundane" others might consider them, take a lot of mental effort. Still, it feels far more passionate and exciting than our day-to-day 9-5 jobs, that's for sure.

Elaelah Harley is the first author I have interviewed that is a co-writer. Along with fellow Aussie author Alanya J. Stuckey, they have crafted the Greenport Books; romance novels set with the backdrop of Australian smalltown life. A lifestyle both Harley and Stuckey are familiar with.

But romance is not the only genre Elaelah is sticking with, as she mentioned towards the end of our chat that she is working on a fantasy story, that is being edited by the University of Southern Queensland! Exciting times ahead for Elaelah, and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

Enjoy the episode.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Where Elaelah grew up and her educational background

05:41 A day in Elaelah’s life

10:22 Encouraging teenage students to read

14:51 Elaelah’s approach writing

24:26 Co-writing in the indie author world.

34:43 The Greenport Series

37:45 Non-negotiable themes in ‘Love in Our Experience’

43:38 Next projects in Greenport Series - a Cowboy romance

45:10 Collaborative writing has improved Elaelah’s solo writing

46:52 Future and recent book events

50:01 A Fantasy Book in the works!

55:22 Where to get in find Elaelah online

Elaelah Harley links:

* Instagram

* Website

* Tiktok

* Facebook

* Amazon

Greenport Books:

* Website

* Instagram

MG Hunt’s Links:

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this bonus episode, I chat about:

* The editing process for my next book Dakrness in the flesh,

* Marketing Darkness in the Flesh as well as some insights into the illustrations and design choices made for the book

* Some shoutouts to some important author friends in my lfie

* The official book launch for Darkness in the Flesh.

Please note: In the video I said the book event is 11 September, this is a mistake and the event is now 12 September. There’s a Save-the-date book event on Facebook which you can join if you want more updates about the launch.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:10 Editing process with Darkness in the Flesh: The story of Gatira

05:25 The Cover design for Darkness in the Flesh

10:34 Illustration of the Cast from Darkness in the Flesh

16:23 Event updates and life updates

20:49 ARA and the chat with Jess Weber

21:34 Formal announcement of The Leaf Bookshop Book Launch

Media discussed in the video

Age of Pages: Short form videos

Jess McFarlane Book fair Australia Episode

SK Stapar Books:

* Midnight Gate

* Firedawn Gate

Jess Weber Episode: Inside the First Chapter Bookshop

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

When people hear the term ghostwriting, a lot of thoughts can arise. Is the book authentic to the author if it is ghost-written? But Kaitlan firmly believes it is a crucial and accessible way for people to share their memoirs. She hopes to instil a renewed confidence in an author’s writing to believe that self-publishing is a beautiful chance to share one’s story.

We discuss in detail about the ways ghostwriting can open up doors to people who might find writing their memoir difficult, and how her services offer way for people can

If there was ever a person who does it all in the publishing world, it would be Kaitlan. She wears so many different hats, and is only getting started. Manager of Green Hill Publishing by day, and ghostwriting/editor by night.

In addition to all that she is also embarking on her own writing projects - a memoir focused on managing grief in your 20s, as well as a romance novel. Stay tuned for more amazing things coming from Kaitlan Sharpe.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

02:20 Kaitlan’s background

09:24 What does a day in Kaitlan’s life look like

14:45 The different sides of self publishing

18:31 All about ghost writing and what it is

31:08 Kaitlan’s Editing Career and process

38:30 A new venture: Kaitlan’s own writing

40min mark there is a discussion of death and cancer until 53:45 min mark

44:14 Writing complex grief

53:45 Kaitlan’s fiction writing

57:30 What’s next for Kaitlan?

01:00:47 Where to find Kaitlan on social media

Kaitlan Sharpe’s links:

* Loads of Books Website

* Instagram

* X

* Goodreads

* LinkedIn

* Green Hill Press Website

MG Hunt’s Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I always feel like I’m spinning plates: 9–5 graphic designer, 5–9 author/illustrator/podcast host. But then I look at Jess Weber: mum of three, bookshop owner, and the event‑planning force behind Adelaide’s iconic A Romantic Affair (ARA). Suddenly I realise I’m in good company. This non‑stop, multi‑job hustle is the creative reality for so many of us in the indie author space.

Chatting with Jess, it was immediately clear how deep her love of books, especially romance, runs. After visiting a quaint small‑town bookshop, she felt inspired to create one of her own, and that desire became The First Chapter Bookshop.

She laughed as she told me how her husband was convinced they didn’t need to order more stock for opening day… until hundreds of people lined up outside. With around 400 visitors walking through the doors - yeah, they definitely needed more books!

It was inspiring to listen to Jess talk about her zest for life and all things bookish. Though firmly not interested in writing herself, the work she does in the indie author space, but particularly in the Aussie indie romance space.

If you’re based in Adelaide, South Australia or visiting the city, you must check out The First Chapter Bookshop, located Upstairs - Unit 2, 15 Sturton Road, Edinburgh, SA 5112, Australia.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

04:05 Jess’s background

10:40 A day in Jess’s life

15:10 ARA27 Event?

16:30 Adelaide is the secret no one wants to share

18:44 3 highlights from Jess’s bookshop journey

26:00 How important indie authors are for Jess’s bookshop

32:09 ARA26 Event Behind the Scenes

45:16 What inspired Jess to run a book event?

50:58 Has Jess considered writing a book?

53:26 Exciting future plans for The First Chapter!

56:29 Where to find The First Chapter Bookshop

Jess Weber Links

The First Chapter:

* Website

* Instagram

* Facebook

A Romantic Affair (Convention):

* Website

* Instagram

* Facebook

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Currently living in Malaysia, proud Wiradjuri woman, Demi Clorissa, grew up in Kempsey, New South Wales. Growing up in a small town, reading was her safe haven. And even in times of growing up and coming of age, when priorities shifted from books to reckless social behaviours, rediscovering her passion for writing and literature transformed her life. She even described it as something akin to ‘saving’ her from a path she didn’t envision for herself.

Her writing journey has taken her to amazing places. Although she studied and practiced nursing in the mental health field, she now does what a lot of indie authors aspire to do, write full-time. It was Demi’s husband who encouraged her to do so. As they were going to uproot their lives and move to Malaysia, he suggested she take the plunge and give it a go. If it didn’t work out, Demi could always go back into the mental health medicine space. But from talking with Demi, I get the sense she isn’t slowing down anytime soon with her writing, and it is taking her to new and exciting places.

Fortune favours the bold, as the saying goes, and I know that we are only seeing the beginning of how Demi Clorissa’s The Divine Bride Series will have a great impact in the romantasy genre.

Enjoy the episode!

Timestamps

00:00 introduction

03:38 Demi’s background

11:17 Importance of working with people you trust

16:20 The art of critiquing

17:52 Book 2 feedback

21:37 Hardest vs most enjoyable part of writing

33:55 Writing a plus size FMC and exploring different bodies in writing

44:12 Exploring complex friendships/family dynamics in writing

46:12 Mia’s character development

53:03 The Rose and her Warrior Novella

59:47 What’s next for Demi Clorissa

Demi Clorissa Links

* Website

* Instagram

* Tiktok

* Threads

* Amazon

* Goodreads

* Linktree

* Facebook

MG Hunt Links

* Instagram

* Linktree

* Threads

* Goodreads

* TikTok

* Facebook

* Website

* Amazon

Thanks for tuning in to my segment on the Indie Author Life show! If you’d like to support my work, my Ko‑Fi author shop has signed copies of my books and a range of bookish goodies, including pins, bookmarks, and art prints.

Thanks for reading Indie Author Life! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.